Saturday, July 16, 2016

Catherine
Sheffield was the wife of William Christopher Seaman, my GGG Grandfather.

Catherine was
first married to Ignatius Grantham on 09-Oct-1810 in Wayne County, Georgia. [1]

Ignatius Grantham and Catherine Sheffield Marriage record

In 1815 they had a son, West Sheffield Grantham. Court records show that they lived together as
man and wife for nine years, but by the 1820 US census neither Catherine nor
West were enumerated in Ignatius’s household, meaning they were likely no
longer living with Ignatius at the time of the census.

Uncommon in
the era, Catherine filed for divorce in 1825 citing:

“…soon
after said intermarriage, the said Ignatius Grantham, disregarding the sanctity
of his vows & the rights & duties incident to the married State,
committed the crime of adultery with one Lavinia Grantham & with divers
other lewd women to your Oratrix unknown.”“… the said Ignatius hath willingly, constantly & obstinately
deserted & abandoned your Oratrix.”[2]Oratrix is a legal term for a female
petitioner.

The court attempted to locate Ignatius during the divorce proceedings,
but he could not be found.

Interestingly, the divorce records show that she was legally represented by her
“next friend” William Seaman.Yes, this is the William Seaman that she
later married. The divorce must have
been granted about 1828, because in November 1828 Catherine married William Seaman.The divorce petition records
Catherine asking for equity, but the settlement required Catherine to pay the
court cost of $23.03 and give up one slave girl.